According to a recent survey by Kanetix.ca, only one-quarter of Canadians are likely to consider their future neighbours when shopping for a new home. And that could be problematic, says Leonie Tait, marketing manager at Kanetix.ca, an online marketplace and information hub for homebuyers.

“Ultimately it plays into how happy you’re going to be in your own home,” says Tait, who recommends homebuyers do research and get to know the neighbourhood ahead of time.

To underscore the significance, Kantetix.ca polled Canadian renters and homeowners about their biggest neighbourhood complaints. Topping the list was excessive noise, with 37% of respondents citing it, regardless of region, gender or age. The next four major complaints were: not picking up after a dog, littering with cigarette butts, using a yard as a garbage dump and invading privacy.

“Obviously there are some things you cannot know before you move in,” says Tait. “The key is not to get so focused on the home itself and get emotionally invested, but to consider the neighbourhood and neighbours as well.”

We can’t all be blessed with the likes of Seinfeld’s Kramer, I Love Lucy’s Ethel, Leave it to Beaver’s Eddie Haskell or any other best TV neighbour. So how do we research this?

Tait suggests knocking on a few doors and introducing yourself, or spending time in a nearby park or neighbourhood mall. You can also ask a realtor for information.

It’s s a good idea to revisit a neighbourhood at different times of day. There’s a lot to digest on your first walkthrough of a home so it’s easy to miss what’s going on two doors down.

If you’re purchasing a newly constructed home, you may experience some angst over who your neighbours are going to be and how the area will evolve over time. Some builders will kick-start a sense of community by hosting meet-and-greet events at a model home or sales centre. But often it’s up to you to break the ice by introducing yourself and your family as close as possible to move-in day, says Tait.

“We would say treat your neighbours the way you want to be treated yourself,” she says.

If you’ve developed those positive relationships and gotten off on the right foot, if these problems do arise, talk it out. Because more often than not, people are surprised to learn that something is an issue.”